Money Saving Expert - US Visa question

[ojread2]

Ok, I read MSE a lot for info on lots of different things but spend a lot of time in the travel forums

There was a thread recently where someone asked if the US had direct access to UK criminal records. I've always thought form reading threads here and contributions form dzug and Chris that they didn't unless you were a terrorist etc. So that some silly thing you did as a teenager would not be accessible

According to MSE forum posters they do have such access?
So, do they or not is my question?

[dzug2]

They do not have DIRECT access.

They have INDIRECT access, which means they phone (or maybe e-mail if they are not in a hurry) a contact here, say why they need to know and get told/sent details if it's justified. That's still not ACCESS as such. It's sharing specific information through channels

They do have access to a shared list of those of interest to the authorities in both countries - what you need to have done (or maybe not done) to get on that list is ill-defined. I doubt if some minor indiscretion as a teenager would be there - though if you were a small time drug dealer or a member of a subversive group it might be.

And even if it's not, <<given sufficient reason>> they would still be able to find out about it

[237SJ]

I doubt whether anyone really knows unless they work for respective authorities. I doubt the US has direct access any more than the UK has direct access to US criminal records. They probably share information on certain subjects/people and request it of each other when they need to know something. I`ve had many a colleague held up at US immigration because they have the same/similar name as a terror suspect. That wouldn`t happen if the US could peer into people`s criminal history (or lack of it)

[ojread2]

thanks both
Answered my Q nicely =)

[dzug2]

The main reason for refusal of entry to the US is not some undisclosed criminal record, but the suspicion that you are going to overstay or work illegally

And on MSE (like here) answers vary in accuracy. At least here we have chatterbox to get rid of the dross (posts, not posters...)